“Miss Yan, how can there be no next step?”

“Because there’s something more important to do.”

Yan Sanhe walked in front of Zhu Weixi and looked down at her.

“Madam has only a few hours left. As her children, you should go keep her company, watch over her, and discuss whether to let her leave clear-headed or depart confused.”

Zhu Weixi had no more tears in her eyes.

She slowly raised her eyes to meet Yan Sanhe’s gaze. Yan Sanhe was startled by her expression.

She didn’t know what words to use to describe this look.

It seemed hollow, yet also seemed desperate.

The Zhu Weixi before her was only a shell now. Her soul had been beaten to scattered fragments by blow after blow, never again to be pieced together whole in this life.

To her, Geng Songsheng, though unforgettable, was ultimately the past. When she sent out that hairpin, she had decided to move forward.

Geng Songsheng had given her the strength to move forward.

But now?

The happiness of the past twenty-some years was all an illusion.

She was a substitute.

Every time he gazed at her with tenderness and love, he was looking through her face to cherish another woman.

She and Mother actually had no difference—both were pawns on his chessboard.

The only difference was—

Because of this face, she received so-called kindness.

While Mother, because she lacked this face, had only hours left before going to hell.

“Sanhe.”

“Mm.”

Zhu Weixi’s face was deathly pale, her eyes blood-red. She stared intently at Yan Sanhe, her lips moving several times, unable to speak a single word.

Yan Sanhe bent down. “What do you want to say?”

“I…”

Blood slowly trickled from the corner of her lips. “For the rest of my life… I probably can never look in a mirror again.”

One sentence struck everyone with profound grief.

The face in the mirror was a face that greatly resembled Concubine Fu. For the rest of her life, she would have to bear this face and walk through to the end.

A lifetime.

How long that was.

Every hour, every day, every month, every year… how could she possibly continue?

She couldn’t continue anymore.

Zhu Weixi silently collapsed into Yan Sanhe’s arms.

“Zhu Weixi.”

“Younger Sister!”

“Go fetch the imperial physician, quickly fetch the imperial physician.”

“Sanhe, move aside. I’ll carry her to the side room.”

“Press her philtrum, quickly press her philtrum.”

“Ai ya, the blood in her mouth—it’s still flowing out.”

In the chaos, Xie Zhifei very calmly gave Ding Yi a meaningful look.

Ding Yi quickly ran outside, randomly grabbed a young servant, and said in a low voice, “Quickly go to the Hanlin Academy to find your eldest young master.”

“Yes!”

…

With her philtrum pressed, Zhu Weixi slowly came to.

Upon waking, she opened her eyes to look at everyone around her, then closed them again.

Yan Sanhe tucked in her blanket and stood up. “Let her rest.”

Everyone walked out of the side room. Li Bu Yan at the rear gently closed the door.

“Old Steward.”

Zhu Jing wiped away his tears. “Miss Yan.”

“Prepare Madam’s funeral arrangements.”

Yan Sanhe paused. “To avoid arousing outsiders’ suspicions, you can say publicly that after Old Master Zhu passed away, Madam was overcome with grief and followed him in death.”

At these words, even the Zhu brothers felt sick, with an urge to vomit up last night’s dinner.

But they couldn’t vomit.

The three brothers understood very clearly in their hearts—this was the only excuse they could use, because in the eyes of the world, their husband and wife had always been deeply devoted.

Zhu Yuanmo forcefully suppressed the churning in his heart. “Old Steward, go make preparations.”

“Yes!”

Zhu Jing wiped his tears as he turned and walked out.

The snow had stopped at some point, but the weather remained overcast. He walked with his head down and back bent, as if he’d aged more than ten years in an instant.

“Ding Yi, carry your master up.”

Yan Sanhe looked at Xie Zhifei. “Stop forcing yourself. Leave quickly. I’ll see you out.”

Xie Zhifei knew she had something to say and lightly closed his lashes.

Young Master Pei quickly stood up. “I’ll see him out too!”

Li Bu Yan also stood. “Can’t have Third Master’s send-off without me!”

Leave me alone at the Zhu estate?

I won’t do it!

This ghostly place scares people to death.

Huang Qi scurried to Xie Zhifei’s front. “Third Master, come up. I’ll carry you!”

Ding Yi: “…”

“Miss Yan, please wait.”

Yan Sanhe looked at Zhu Yuanmo and waved at those behind her, indicating they should leave first.

Xie Zhifei pressed his hand on Huang Qi’s shoulder. Huang Qi immediately stopped.

Pei Xiao, Li Bu Yan and the others also didn’t leave, pricking up their ears to hear what Zhu Yuanmo wanted to say to Yan Sanhe.

“His heart demon—now that we’ve unraveled this much, will my mother…”

“No.”

Yan Sanhe’s tone was firm. “Your mother is not the person who resolves the demon.”

Zhu Yuanmo: “Why are you so certain?”

Yan Sanhe’s brow furrowed slightly. After turning several thoughts over in her mind, she decided to speak plainly.

“Originally I planned to wait until after seeing Madam off to discuss this in detail with you all. Since you’re asking, I’ll speak frankly—it’s still intuition!”

Looking at Zhu Xuanjiu’s entire life through the simplest timeline, it could be divided into two periods—

One period before becoming family head.

One period after becoming family head.

Before becoming family head, Old Master was above Zhu Xuanjiu. He certainly hid his fox tail very deeply—one Eldest Master and one Fifth Uncle should have been about enough.

After becoming family head, Old Master had passed away. He had absolute authority in the Zhu family and in the Imperial Observatory. He was the true power holder.

At this time, if he wanted to pursue crooked dark paths, there was really no one who could restrain him anymore.

“Let’s not discuss where he learned these crooked dark arts for now. Let’s just focus on the present.”

Yan Sanhe paused. “The current focus of investigation should be after he took control of the Imperial Observatory.”

Zhu Yuanmo’s heart began pounding wildly, and his body shook violently several times.

Seeing things were not good, Second Master Zhu and Third Master Zhu quickly stepped forward to support him.

On Huang Qi’s back, Xie Zhifei was even more alarmed, his lips moving several times without being able to speak a word.

In recent days, the capital had been under such strict inspection, yet last night the three Zhu brothers still managed to leave the city smoothly.

Why?

Because of the Imperial Observatory’s special nature.

There were two types of people in the Imperial Observatory—

One type was ordinary Observatory officials who observed celestial phenomena, calculated seasonal periods, formulated calendars, and calculated various auspicious dates for the Ministry of Rites.

The other type was people with real skills like Zhu Xuanjiu, who reported directly to the Emperor and were loyal only to the Emperor, divining fortune and prosperity for the Emperor.

The first type—secretly investigating might not matter much.

Investigate the second type?

That really was courting death.

Moreover, the current Emperor was still alive. During Zhu Xuanjiu’s nineteen years as Observatory Director, he had primarily handled matters for the Emperor.

Investigate him?

Forget that he and Mingting lacked the ability—even if the Crown Prince’s Grandson were here, he wouldn’t dare agree!

Li Bu Yan saw them all staying silent. “What, can’t investigate?”

Xie Zhifei’s words were directed at Li Bu Yan, but his gaze was on Zhu Yuanmo. “If you’re tired of living, you could investigate.”

“Mm.”

Young Master Pei held up one palm, but thinking one palm was still too many, he curled two fingers.

“Three days. Just three days, and I guarantee the Hero can enjoy prison food at the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

Ding Yi added the finishing blow: “And conveniently sample the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s eighteen tortures.”

Huang Qi said earnestly, “They’re really not scaring you.”

Li Bu Yan: “…”

Don’t say it—I really am scared!